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(No Model.)

J.. D. GRAYBILL. AERIAL MACHINE.

,Patented ont. 26, 1897.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. D. GRAYBILL. AERIAL MACHINE.

No. 592,704. Patented Oct. 26, 1897.

. HvA/Emol? Jaca. G'ngyl. By M' Arm/mns.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model.)

J. D. GRAYBILL. AERIAL MACHINE. No. 592,704. Batented Oct. 26, 1897.

WIM/8358:

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UNITED STATEs ATENT EEICE.

JACOB D; GEAYBILL, OE NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, AssIeNoE OE TIIREE- 'rENTIIs rro WILLIAM w. BATTLE, OEl sAME PLAOE.

"AERIAL MACHINE.

SPEQIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,704, dated October 26, 1897.

Application Ala Mayte, i596.

useful Improvement in Aerial Machines, of

which the following'is a specification.

My invention is an improved machine for aerial navigation; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations,-

Io and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a top plan view,

Fig. 2 a side view, Vand Fig.A 3 a cross-section on about line 3 3, Fig.l 2, of a machine em- I5 bodying my improvements. u Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section on about line 4 4, Fig. 3,.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the devices for shifting the cross-shaft, and Fig. 6 represents the lever-lock in detail.

In carrying out my invention I provide a body A in the form of a gas-holder, whose frame is composed of aluminium tubing and which may be covered with aluminium or other light material. The tubing a may be filled with compressed gas to lighten the weight of said tubing. In practice the gasholder may be made in the form shown or in any other suitable shape desired. Between the ends of the holder A, I arrange the basket or car C, preferably formed in the under side of the holder, so that its chambers in front and rear of the car can be connected by a passage A. Y i Y An air-chamber D separates the ends and top of theY car from the gas-holder. This air-chamber is employed to assist in controlling the buoyancy ofthel machine in raising and lowering it or in alight and stron gbreeze. By pumping air into this chamber I overcome the amount of gas used to raise the machine, thereby causing the machine to descend. The air-chamber also serves to prevent the persons or articles in the car from being affected by the gas should any escape.

At the rear of the gas-holder I provide a rudder E, which may be turned from side to side, and this rudder may be worked in the same manner as the rudder of a boat and by the devices shown or other suitable construc- 5o tions, as may be desired.

The operating mechanism is preferably sain N. 593,173. fr@ man.)

supported in the car, and gas, air, or electric engines may be employed for driving the same, while an ordinary air-pump can be used to pump air into the air-chamber. The engine shown is .that knownY as a Veber gasolene-engine, but, manifestly, any form or pattern of engine'may'be used if desired. VVThe operating mechanism comprises a crossshaft F,which is movable longitudinally in 6o its bearings Gr and is geared by wheel f with the drive-gearing. A lever His pivoted at hand is forked at one end to engage on opposite sides of the wheel f, so it may be operated'to set the shaft F longitudinally and in 65 either direction. On this shaft F are secured the ball-balanced crank-arms I, having the blocks i, provided with openings li', through which the lever-arms J of the wings pass, such arms J constituting lever devices by 7o which to operate the wings. The wings K are supported by the lever-lock on which the arms of the wings move up and down and back and forth, the locks being so adjusted as to allow the wings to be set in any position. rlhese wings when not used for propelling the machine can be used as side sails. By means of the lever H the shaft F can-be set endwise, thereby giving the wing on the side toward which it is moved a greater sweep 8o than the opposite one, and vice Versa when the lever is reversed.

The shaft L, geared with the cross-shaft F, is shown provided with crank-handles, by which it may be turned; but I do not desire 8 5 to be limited to any particular means for operating the cross-shaft or to any particular devices for connecting the operating means with such shaft.

The arms J of the wings are supported in 9o the lever-locks L4. (Best shown in Fig. 6.) These lever-locks consist of the levers L', pivoted at Z and universally jointed at l tothe locks L2, in which are pivoted'the rocking shafts L3, in which the arms J of the wings g5 are held.

The levers L may be moved on their pivots to vary the angle of the wings or to set such Wings to position for sailing, a pawl M and rack M being provided by which to hold the Ioo lever in any desired adjustment. It will also be seen that the wings Inay be adjusted to position to cause the machine to ascend or descend; also, that the wings may be adj Listed independently and so aid in guiding the machine to one side or the other.

It will be seen that the air or vacuum chamber has no communication whatever with the gas or buoyancy chamber. IVhen the latter chamber is once filled, no gas is withdrawn or condensed in order to ascend or descend.

To descend, I simply pump air into the airchamber to overcome the buoyancy. This can be done at any height, air and gas always having the same relative difference in weight.

In practice I provide a hydrogen-gas chamber that will hold ten thousand cubic feet of gas. Into this chamberI put nine thousand cubic feet of gas, leaving one thousand cubic feet of space for expansion. The nine thousand cubic feet of gas give me a buoyancy of six hundred and twelve pounds at sea-level. If Amy ship complete weighs two hundred pounds, I still have a buoyancy of four hundred and twelve pounds'. Taking from this the weight of two men, each one hundred and seventy-five pounds, and I have left a buoyancy of seventy-two pounds. Thus if my airchamber has space to receive but four hundred cubic feet of air I have air-space enough to overcome four times seventy-two pounds of buoyancy. Then if seventy-two pounds of buoyancy takes us higher than we wish to go, by simply opening the Valve in the air-pump we allow air to pass into the air-chamber until we have checked our upward ight. Then the wings can be used to propel the car in any desired direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An aerial ship comprising a gas-holder, a car located within the framework of said gasholder, an air or vacuum chamber protecting the car from gas on front, back and top substantially as shown and described.

2. In an aerial machine, the combination of the shaft, the wings, the arms J connected with the wings and universal joints between the said arms and the shaft and supporting devices for said arms J whereby the wings are caused to move similarly to an oar in rowing all substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the wings, the crossshaft movable longitudinally in its bearings, the lever by which to effect the said movement, the wings the arms connected with the wings and universal joints between said arms Aand the shaft substantially as set forth.

il. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination of the lever-lock consisting of the lever and the lock jointed thereto the wing having its arm held by said lock and the operating devices connected with said arm substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination of the pivoted lock-lever, means whereby said lever may be held in any desired adjustment, the lock jointed to said lever, the wing having its arm held in said lock and the operating devices connected with said arm substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination of the cross-shaft havving crank-arms the wings having their arms connected with the cranks of said shaft and adjustable supports for said wing-arms substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination of lthe cross-shaft having cranks, the wings having their arms connected with said cranks the lever-locks supporting the opposite wing-arms and adjustable independently and means for holding said lever-locks in any desired adjustment.

8. In a machine substantially as described, a non-collapsible wing made approximately V shape in cross-section and arranged with the point or apex forward all substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

JACOB D. GRAYBILL.

Vitnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN. 

